Great Doctor. Completely helps you understand what issues you have and actually talks to you with great respect. – S.G.
Georgia Vasectomy/ Vasectomy Reversal -John Clay McHugh M.D.
Thank you very much. You are kind!- John McHugh
Category Archives: No Needle No Scalpel Vasectomy
What is tenderness on one side or the other after a vasectomy?
This is a common question and maybe more common for me than other urologists. Why?
I make one mid-line opening using the no scalpel instrument. This is done at the peno-scrotal junction (upper aspect of the scrotum in the middle.) Through this opening the right side vas deferens is brought to the surface and the vasectomy is performed. This vas then returns to the right. Same thing is done on the left. (Many urologists make two openings, one on each side.)
What can be confusing to the patient is that days or weeks later he notes the mid-opening that is healed, but he feels a small knot on the left or right. What is going on? Something must be wrong.
The knot is where the body has begun the healing process. This varies from left to right, so that one patient may feel something on the right another the left. Because the opening is in the middle the assumption is that the swelling should be in the middle.
Now you know why it is left or right. The middle is where we access the left and right vas deferens but then it returns to its normal location and the healing process then begins.
If it is a small area and minimal discomfort, then this is the normal healing process and no need to call your doctor.
We offer vasectomy conscious sedation, fair all inclusive pricing for self pay patients and accept most all insurances. Call us when you’re ready to consider a vasectomy. We’ve done thousands.
What are the chances of a vasectomy failure?
Before the vasectomy patient can be released by the urologist to have unprotected sex, there must be two consecutive semen specimens with no sperm. It takes about 25 ejaculations to achieve this. We customarily give two specimen containers at the time of the vasectomy and recommend dropping off the specimens at approximately six and eight weeks. Dr. McHugh personally examines all of the specimens with a microscope.
After the initial clearance to proceed with unprotected sex, the chances of the the vasectomy “growing back together” is 1/2000.
In the diagram above you can see why. When Dr. McHugh performs a vasectomy a section of the vas is removed (red), both ends are cauterized (green) and then an absorbable suture (yellow) is placed on both ends as well.
The diagram above also answers another very common question about vasectomies: Does it affect the patient’s sex life?
The answer there is no. As you see, the only thing “tied off” is the vas deferens and this is where the sperm travels. Testosterone, which is responsible for the male’s sex drive, is produced in the testicle, but leaves the testicle in the blood stream not the vas deferens.
So there is a vas deferens between where the sperm exits and how the testosterone exits the testicle!
Will the Vasectomy Reversal procedure be like my Vasectomy?
A vasectomy takes about 15 minutes and I do them through a single “size of a grain of rice” opening.
A reversal, in my hands, takes about two hours and more commonly uses two incisions (3/4 inch on each side of the upper scrotum over the course of the vas deferens) and requires an operating microscope and microscopic suture.
I tell patients that it is a minor procedure, minimal blood loss or other complications, but it does take two hours to do. Bruising and some scrotal swelling is more common and there is a longer recovery period.
So…to the question…same structure (the vas deferens) different procedure.
Biggest determinate of a vasectomy reversal success?
The interval of time from the vasectomy.
Studies have shown success is related to the timing of the vasectomy which in turn is related to the ability of the testicles to begin producing sperm again in adequate numbers to achieve pregnancy.
Click on “Success Rates” in Menu to see how the interval of the vasectomy affects success.
Is it worth driving from Atlanta to Gainesville for a vasectomy? You bet!
Atlanta to Gainesville Vasectomy : No Pain – More Gain!!!
- Fair Self Pay Pricing.
- Pre-Vasectomy medication for pain and anxiety.
- Dr. McHugh is one of Georgia’s most experienced urologists performing vasectomies and microscopic vasectomy reversals.
- Enhanced Nitrous or Conscious sedation in our Ambulatory Surgery Center with an anesthesiologist- i.e No Pain/No Anxiousness/A pleasant procedure!
- In most cases (whether you have insurance or not) the cost is the same as if you had a vasectomy in an office setting.
- How is it the same price? We waive the facility fees for vasectomies.
- This means-No Pain – To you or…your pocketbook.
- Oh yeah… Dr. McHugh’s free Ebook on Vasectomy-Click here.
Anesthesia in an accredited surgery center, no pain vasectomy, essentially the same price as in an office, and 30 years of experience makes the decision to drive 45 minutes to Gainesville for a vasectomy…a no brainer.
Contact us or use the form below to make an appointment 24/7. A pre-vasectomy consultation is preferred, however to make the Atlanta to Gainesville vasectomy even easier, ask about the same day consult/vasectomy option with our vasectomy coordinator.
Contact Us!
Vasectomies and Reversals Performed by Dr. McHugh Since 2020!
1848
Vasectomies
521
Vas Reversals
2369
Vasectomies and Reversals
A good reason why you shouldn’t have a vasectomy.
“It can be reversed, right?”
Well, yes. However, just because you can reverse a vasectomy, doesn’t mean that you will achieve pregnancy.
I have done several thousand vasectomies and several hundred microscopic vasectomy reversals, so…here are some things to consider “before” you decide to have a vasectomy.
- We tell patients that they should consider a vasectomy permanent and it is…and it isn’t. It can be reversed but it doing so may or may not result in pregnancy.
- A reversal is not covered by insurance and costs range between $3,000- $15,000.
- It is a surgery, there will be an incision on the scrotal area that has to heal and there may or may not be time out of work or cessation of physical activities for a few weeks.
- If it works, i.e. the opening is reconnected and sperm begins to flow again in the ejaculate, there may not be numbers or quality enough to achieve pregnancy.
- It is a patient endeavor as it takes 3-6 months for the testicles to begin producing sperm again normally and if pregnancy occurs it usually does between 6-18 months.
- The longer the period between the vasectomy and the reversal, the lower the chances of success. Click here for success rates based on the vasectomy interval.
- One must visualize how it would feel to have gone through the surgery, the recovery, and the expense only to be on the side of the percentages where pregnancy does not occur.
So…you don’t want to have a vasectomy unless you are pretty darn sure you don’t want to have any more children. An option is to bank sperm before the vasectomy. This costs about $200 a year.
Conclusion: If you think there is any possibility that you might want to have more children do not have vasectomy. Depending on a reversal, even in the best scenario of surgeon and time interval from the vasectomy, is a risky endeavor.
On the flip side: If you have had a vasectomy, the chances of achieving pregnancy is essentially zero. In this setting having a reversal is very reasonable as any chance at pregnancy with a reversal is better than no chance. This is the reasoning most couples have when deciding to pursue a reversal.
Two interesting things about having a vasectomy.
First interesting thing: Getting an infection is uncommon. Most urologists do not place a suture in the small opening necessary for doing the procedure and this may be protective.
Second interesting thing: If there is a sperm granuloma or some swelling or tenderness under the scrotal skin, it usually resolves on its own and…is it almost always just on one side. In my experience it is rare to have an issue with both sides of the procedure. Each side is independent of the other. Go figure!
More questions? Go to the vasectomy page and read the eBook.
